Do you know what caused the $24 spike going into 11:30 today? Also, are there any ETF's long/short/1x/2x that track this metal? TIA,

TTN

I'm not even watching metals markets that close these days. I don't trade futures or options. I'm just basically waiting these days. There is a deflation theory being spread that I don't believe can work out over time. Entitlements are going to increase, and tax revenue will fall. To me , this equals currency crisis. I can't find a link right now, but there was a very brief period of deflation in Weimar Germany, before the currency melted to zero.

I have some physical silver and some mining stock that got hammered last fall .The small producers that I own are coming back, but the exploration sector was decimated and still very slow. Believe it or not, a lot of these exploration companies had market caps not long ago equivalent to far less than the cash they held in the bank. I'm not celebrating yet either. Exploration is ugly.

I wondered if other precious metals besides gold have ever been limited/regulated for personal ownership? Is there an advantage to buying let's say silver or platinum as opposed to gold to avoid confiscation/regulation by the gov't?

Well right now precious metals are at a premium, and continue to rise. I saw someone mention palladium which is also a good choice, but as I recall it's expensive. As a matter of fact it's right up there with platinum. If you're looking for cheaper metals silver and copper are the way to go.

She didn't have a clue what I was saying. The general public has become totally brainwashed. TV, movies, news, and the political correctness religion has warped people's minds to the point that they don't even think it unusual that their country is losing its wonderful beauty and clean character while becoming a wretched, stinky, filthy, third-world pig sty. Even the most filthy of all pornographic garbage is now sent to cell phones so people can "show" it to their friends. One guy flashed his phone at me last night so I could see. I quickly turned my head in disgust & snapped "I don't want to see that nasty crap."